The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has issued a warning to patent medicine dealers over illicit drug sales, saying offenders will face arrest and prosecution.
DAILY POST reports that the Edo State Command of the agency, led by, Mitchell Ofoyeju, gave the warning at a one-day anti-drug abuse workshop for members of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Benin City.
According to him, “We are not here to vilify but to collaborate. We recognise you as legitimate, caring business people who provide essential services. The NDLEA will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any erring member who violates the rules of engagement.”
Ofoyeju described NAPPMED as often the first and most accessible point of contact for healthcare in communities, especially in rural and underserved areas.
He said the aim of the workshop is to empower members of the association with knowledge so that they can better protect their businesses, communities, and collective future from the devastation of drug abuse.
He noted that the trust reposed in members of the association by the public is immense and comes with a crucial responsibility that extends beyond dispensing medications to safeguarding public health against the scourge of drug abuse.
He said the workshop is designed as both a capacity-building exercise and a clarion call to adhere to the rules governing access to medicines.
The Edo State NDLEA Commander also added that the event is geared towards deepening NAPPMED members’ understanding of the provisions of the agency’s Act and other relevant laws regarding controlled medicines and substances.
He said the objectives also include sharpening members’ skills in identifying red flags for drug abuse and diversion, reinforcing ethical dispensing practices and responsible record-keeping.
Other objectives include establishing NAPPMED members as active agents of prevention, equipped to offer correct advice and referrals, as well as fostering a stronger, more collaborative relationship between the association and the NDLEA for intelligence gathering and community protection.
He, however, called for a strategic partnership with patent medicine dealers to address the challenges of substance abuse and illicit drug trade in the state and the country at large.
“When prescription drugs, psychoactive substances, and codeine-based cough syrups find their way into the wrong hands through unethical conduct, it can aggravate addiction, destroy families, and cripple the potential of our youths.”
He opined that NAPPMED members stand as gatekeepers between legitimate medicine and substance abuse.
While disclosing that the programme would be extended to the Edo Central and North senatorial districts, he said it was part of the mandate of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier-General (rtd) Mohammed Buba Marwa, to educate members of the public, monitor supply chain controls, engage relevant stakeholders, and implement enforcement measures to curb drug problems in society.
Earlier, Mrs Victoria Omueti, President of NAPPMED, Edo State, pledged to work with relevant stakeholders as one of the healthcare providers regulated by the Pharmacy Council to fight against the misuse of drugs in society.
Omueti, who commended the NDLEA for the programme, noted that the fight against drug abuse is a collective responsibility.
The theme of the workshop is, “Patent Medicine Vendors as Frontline Defenders: Ensuring Safe Medicines, Preventing Drug Abuse.”
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